Laverne was born in Winkler, Manitoba 26 April 1953 to Leslie and Helena (nee Friesen) Wiebe. He was the fourth, of what would eventually become a family of six kids by the end of 1955.
He attended school in Morden and but left before graduating because he just “hated” going to school. He was always a tough kid, who never complained, no matter what his situation and it showed in many things he did.
He did like sports and became a very good baseball player in his early teens. He was dedicated. He was about 12 when he broke his thumb and Doctor Colert told him, he would not be playing ball for a few weeks. A couple of days later he’s heading out the door in his ball uniform and mom says “where do you think you’re going?” “We have a ball game tonight,” says Laverne. Mom tells him in no uncertain terms to, “Get back down stairs and take of the uniform. You are not playing ball.” He went downstairs and mom went out to the garden. Things were very quiet so she goes to check on him, no Laverne. She went to the ball diamond and there he is, playing his normal position, Catcher. He had taken off the cast to get his hand into the glove. Mom talked to the coach and Laverne’s ball playing was finished for a few of weeks. Don’t know how he managed to catch Johnny Dyck’s pitches with a broken hand. He probably felt more pain when his beloved Blue Jays lost the World Series in game 7 last fall.
Laverne got an infection at the end of his finger and mom took him to see Doctor Colert. Doc Colert says the finger nail has to come off or it will never heal properly. The doctor wanted to freeze it but Laverne says, “no way”. He would not be convinced otherwise. Mom watched as the doctor took of the nail and mom said never flinched.
He went to work at Buhler Industries for a while but opted for pipelining. His dream was to eventually become a pipeline welder. In 1975 Laverne was involved in a horrific accident on the pipeline job which ended his dream of welding. He suffered severe head trauma which changed his personality and affected his overall health for the rest of his life. He made some tough decisions, some good, some, not so much. He only ever voiced one regret over a decision he had made. Other than that he rolled with the punches in spite of struggles.
Laverne and Kathy were introduced by a mutual friend in 1989 and in time they hit it off and got married 6 July 1991 at the Christ Lutheran Church. They managed to blend the kids, the ones that were still at home, into one family. Kathy continued her job with Morden Chiropractic and Laverne needed something to do so in 1992 he started a Lawn Care business, “The Odd Job Squad.” Kathy helped him out a lot, to get the business of the ground and eventually joined him. They did lawns in summer and snow clearing in winter. They continued with the business until Laverne’s health would no longer allow him to physically, work that hard.
Laverne made another, much more serious, decision in 1992. He decided to accept Jesus as his personal Savior and got baptized. He never wavered from his belief, in spite of the struggles that came his way. Laverne and Kathy attended a couple of different churches over the years but eventually ended up back at Kathy’s home church, the Christ Lutheran. Laverne was a fan of Pastor Tom Baker.
The Morden Activity Centre became a second home for Laverne, after he was no longer able to work. Bingo once a week and Cribbage every morning Monday to Friday. He made many friends there over the years, some of which are present today. Kathy and Laverne became Royal Canadian Legion members and started attending Cribbage evenings. They did very well in doubles. Laverne also played singles and won the gold medal in the Manitoba Senior Games one year. He also represented the Morden Branch of the Legion in a Singles Tournament in Winnipeg, which he won. He was very proud of his cribbage accomplishments. Rightfully so!
Laverne fell in his garden in the summer of 2021 and got a bad cut on his head. He had developed some balance problems and so he and Kathy decided to put the house on the market and buy a condo. I asked him what the motivation was and he replied,” I can’t look after the yard and house the way it should be looked after and Kathy can’t either. If something was to happen to me she would be in a bad spot. A condo seems to be the right fit for us.” It did turn out to be a good decision. Laverne’s health continued to decline and there were many long days and evenings that Kathy spent with him in the ER. It became obvious, last Fall, that his inability to look after himself did not allow him to live at home any longer. He pretty much needed help with everything. Laverne decided a care home was the best place for him and elected to go to the Pembina Manitou Health Centre until there was an opening for him at Tabor Home in Morden. After continuing health struggles and following a 3 day stay in the Notre Dame Hospital he elected Comfort Care. He was moved back to Manitou on 14 April and the following day he became unresponsive and stayed that way for 6 days. Kathy and or April were always present.
In the evening of 20 April 2026, at the Pembina Manitou Health Centre, Edwin Laverne Wiebe of Morden, Manitoba went to meet his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He was 72 years old.
He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughters Tanya (Steve), April (Will), step sons Michael (Shelby), Geoffrey (Daria), Ryan (Twyla), 10 grandchildren, brothers Ken (Linda), Dennis (Linda), Garry (Bonnie) and their families. Additionally, he leaves to mourn his passing, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
Laverne was predeceased by his, mom Helena (2025), his dad Les (2013), brother Kel (2009), brother-in-law Blaine (2006) and his sister Carrol (1998).
On behalf of the Forness and Wiebe families, thank you for attending this Celebration of Life for Laverne, a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many.
He attended school in Morden and but left before graduating because he just “hated” going to school. He was always a tough kid, who never complained, no matter what his situation and it showed in many things he did.
He did like sports and became a very good baseball player in his early teens. He was dedicated. He was about 12 when he broke his thumb and Doctor Colert told him, he would not be playing ball for a few weeks. A couple of days later he’s heading out the door in his ball uniform and mom says “where do you think you’re going?” “We have a ball game tonight,” says Laverne. Mom tells him in no uncertain terms to, “Get back down stairs and take of the uniform. You are not playing ball.” He went downstairs and mom went out to the garden. Things were very quiet so she goes to check on him, no Laverne. She went to the ball diamond and there he is, playing his normal position, Catcher. He had taken off the cast to get his hand into the glove. Mom talked to the coach and Laverne’s ball playing was finished for a few of weeks. Don’t know how he managed to catch Johnny Dyck’s pitches with a broken hand. He probably felt more pain when his beloved Blue Jays lost the World Series in game 7 last fall.
Laverne got an infection at the end of his finger and mom took him to see Doctor Colert. Doc Colert says the finger nail has to come off or it will never heal properly. The doctor wanted to freeze it but Laverne says, “no way”. He would not be convinced otherwise. Mom watched as the doctor took of the nail and mom said never flinched.
He went to work at Buhler Industries for a while but opted for pipelining. His dream was to eventually become a pipeline welder. In 1975 Laverne was involved in a horrific accident on the pipeline job which ended his dream of welding. He suffered severe head trauma which changed his personality and affected his overall health for the rest of his life. He made some tough decisions, some good, some, not so much. He only ever voiced one regret over a decision he had made. Other than that he rolled with the punches in spite of struggles.
Laverne and Kathy were introduced by a mutual friend in 1989 and in time they hit it off and got married 6 July 1991 at the Christ Lutheran Church. They managed to blend the kids, the ones that were still at home, into one family. Kathy continued her job with Morden Chiropractic and Laverne needed something to do so in 1992 he started a Lawn Care business, “The Odd Job Squad.” Kathy helped him out a lot, to get the business of the ground and eventually joined him. They did lawns in summer and snow clearing in winter. They continued with the business until Laverne’s health would no longer allow him to physically, work that hard.
Laverne made another, much more serious, decision in 1992. He decided to accept Jesus as his personal Savior and got baptized. He never wavered from his belief, in spite of the struggles that came his way. Laverne and Kathy attended a couple of different churches over the years but eventually ended up back at Kathy’s home church, the Christ Lutheran. Laverne was a fan of Pastor Tom Baker.
The Morden Activity Centre became a second home for Laverne, after he was no longer able to work. Bingo once a week and Cribbage every morning Monday to Friday. He made many friends there over the years, some of which are present today. Kathy and Laverne became Royal Canadian Legion members and started attending Cribbage evenings. They did very well in doubles. Laverne also played singles and won the gold medal in the Manitoba Senior Games one year. He also represented the Morden Branch of the Legion in a Singles Tournament in Winnipeg, which he won. He was very proud of his cribbage accomplishments. Rightfully so!
Laverne fell in his garden in the summer of 2021 and got a bad cut on his head. He had developed some balance problems and so he and Kathy decided to put the house on the market and buy a condo. I asked him what the motivation was and he replied,” I can’t look after the yard and house the way it should be looked after and Kathy can’t either. If something was to happen to me she would be in a bad spot. A condo seems to be the right fit for us.” It did turn out to be a good decision. Laverne’s health continued to decline and there were many long days and evenings that Kathy spent with him in the ER. It became obvious, last Fall, that his inability to look after himself did not allow him to live at home any longer. He pretty much needed help with everything. Laverne decided a care home was the best place for him and elected to go to the Pembina Manitou Health Centre until there was an opening for him at Tabor Home in Morden. After continuing health struggles and following a 3 day stay in the Notre Dame Hospital he elected Comfort Care. He was moved back to Manitou on 14 April and the following day he became unresponsive and stayed that way for 6 days. Kathy and or April were always present.
In the evening of 20 April 2026, at the Pembina Manitou Health Centre, Edwin Laverne Wiebe of Morden, Manitoba went to meet his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He was 72 years old.
He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughters Tanya (Steve), April (Will), step sons Michael (Shelby), Geoffrey (Daria), Ryan (Twyla), 10 grandchildren, brothers Ken (Linda), Dennis (Linda), Garry (Bonnie) and their families. Additionally, he leaves to mourn his passing, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
Laverne was predeceased by his, mom Helena (2025), his dad Les (2013), brother Kel (2009), brother-in-law Blaine (2006) and his sister Carrol (1998).
On behalf of the Forness and Wiebe families, thank you for attending this Celebration of Life for Laverne, a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many.